Jakob Matthias Schmutzer

Impressive study heads made over a period of more than forty years by Jakob Matthias Schmutzer showing a wide variety of facial expressions and character depictions have come down to us. These sheets have mostly been executed using an accurate and finely differentiated red chalk technique that Schmutzer learned from Johann Georg Wille in Paris. The drawing of character heads had been a key feature of academic lessons since the era of Charles Le Brun, whose theoretical treatise Conférence sur l’expression génerale et particulière published in 1698 influenced whole generations of art students. It was in the tradition of such textbooks that Schmutzer etched the present sheets based on head studies that he made himself. Some of the print designs are accessible in digital form at the Museum der angewandten Kunst in Vienna (photographs from an album, inv. KI 16713–37, 40, 51, 54, 56–58) and date to between 1774 and 1788, while one sheet is dated before 1811, the year of Schmutzer’s death, which also limits the date of origin of the series. Both Nagler and Le Blanc describe just one twelve-sheet series of head studies, whereas two series numbered from 1–12 respectively are on offer here.

The individual sheets are distinguished by their astounding psychological characterisation and spontaneity of expression. The character heads, especially those of children and adolescents, are remarkably realistic, almost touchingly alive and consistently original in their poses and facial expressions. Mostly pensive, introverted, sometimes quietly smiling or with a wide-awake gaze. The scale of human emotions gives these sensitively observed portraits both a universal dignity and an element of timelessness. Superb, contrasting and powerful impressions that reproduce the richly modulated linework in a wonderfully striking and accurate manner, all with thread margins around the distinct and partly inky platemarks. Partly foxed in the white margins only, some occasional slight staining on the right, otherwise in excellent condition throughout. Of the utmost rarity in this degree of completeness and printing quality. Only in the Albertina in Vienna were we able to confirm one of the two series.

15.000 €